Educators is Back for a Third Chaotic School Year

After two critically acclaimed seasons, Educators is back for a third season. Directed by DEGANZ member Jesse Griffin, the show stars co-creators Jackie van Beek (DEGANZ) and Jonny Brugh.

The comedy sitcom follows the hilariously inept teachers in charge of educating the next generation. Set behind the scenes of a typical New Zealand secondary school, the teaching staff is made up of local comedy legends, including Kura Forrester and Rick Donald. Primarily unscripted and improvised, the entire cast’s comedy strengths are on full display.

The show first aired in 2019 with the support of NZOA and has since won the Bronze World Medal in the 2020 New York Festival Streaming Comedy category. It also received nominations for the 2021 NZTV Awards for Best Comedy Series and the 2019 Huawei Mate30 Pro New Zealand Television Awards for Best Web Series.

Watch the series here.

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Luke Haigh Wins ASE Ellie Award

The Australian Screen Editors Guild (ASE) awards ceremony was held over the weekend with our very own DEGANZ member Luke Haigh taking home an Ellie Award for Best Editing in a Commercial for his work on the Waka Kotahi Toll Booth ad.

The Toll Booth commercial was launched earlier in the year as part of Waka Kotahi’s public awareness campaign aiming to increase awareness and understanding of Road to Zero, New Zealandโ€™s road safety strategy. Watch the ad below.

The ASE Ellie Awards have been held annually in Sydney since 2006. See the full list of the 2022 winners here.

Congratulations Luke!

 

 

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Mia Maramara Wins SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award

Congratulations to DEGANZ member and Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator alumna Mia Maramara who took home the 2021 SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year award at the SPADA Screen Industry Summit this past Friday.

The award is sponsored by Fulcrum Media Finance and honours excellence, talent, and creativity in filmmaking. The judges noted that “Mia is making an impact in reaching broad audiences and cresting content that allows the Asian community to see themselves on NZ screens and within NZ contexts. This is by no means an easy feat and the quality of her work, and consistent improvement between projects, demonstrate genuine talent”.

Mia awarded the 2021 SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 2022 SPADA Screen Industry Summit / Photo: SPADA

Mia receives a complimentary registration to the 2023 SPADA Conference and a cash prize of $5,000, which she will put towards writing a feature film version of Albularyo: The Witch Doctor.

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DEGANZ Members Walk Away With NZTV Awards

Aotearoa’s television industry gathered to celebrate the sectorโ€™s achievements at the 2022 New Zealand Television Awards last week, with DEGANZ members Annie Goldson and Vea Mafile’o walking away with awards.

Annie Goldson, alongside Prisca Bouchet and Julie Alp, took home the award for Best Editing: Documentary/Factual for their work on A Mild Touch of Cancer. The documentary follows writer and comedian David Downs as he sets out to help fellow Kiwis dealing with cancer. Annie was also the Director, Writer, and Producer.

The Panthersย took home multiple awards including NZ On Air Best Drama and NZ On Air Best Pasifika Programme, with Vea Mafile’o listed as a recipient for both awards alongside Halaifonua Finau, Tom Hern, Chris Graham and Mario Faumui.

See the full list of winners here.

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Robyn and Toa Nominated for Emmy Award

Congratulations to DEGANZ members Robyn Grace and Toa Fraser who have been nominated for a Childrenโ€™s & Family Emmy Award for their work on Netflix series Sweet Tooth. Alongside Jim Mickle and Alexis Ostrander, the Sweet Tooth directing team have been nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Single Camera Program.

Sweet Tooth has also been nominated for Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Performance, Outstanding Editing and multiple Creative Arts Emmys. Based on the comic book by Jeff Lemire, the series follows a loveable half-human and half-deer boy as he embarks on a dangerous adventure across a post-apocalyptic world. Season two is currently in production.

The first annual Childrenโ€™s & Family Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, December 10 (Creative Arts) and Sunday, December 11 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Good luck to Robyn and Toa!

 

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